Abstract:

The present invention relates to a method and a system for dynamically
selecting audio content items to be played in a vehicle based on driving
parameters derived from the driving of the vehicle. Thereby, the
selection of the audio content can be modified to the various driving
conditions of the vehicle.

Claims:

1. A method for dynamically selecting audio content items to be played in
a vehicle (101, 301) based on at least one driving parameter derived from
the driving of said vehicle (101, 301), comprising:detecting said at
least one driving parameter, andusing said at least one driving parameter
for selecting said audio content.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one driving
parameter comprises at least one parameter of the group consisting of:a
speed parameter giving the traveling speed of said vehicle (101, 301),a
frequency parameter giving the frequency of braking/accelerating of said
vehicle (101, 301), anda driving route parameter giving the drivers
familiarity of the driving route.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one driving
parameter comprises a time parameter giving the estimated remaining
travel time of the driving of said vehicle (101, 301).

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one driving
parameter comprises a location parameter giving the location of said
vehicle (101, 301).

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one driving
parameter comprises a habit parameter reflecting the habit behavior
performed by the driver/rider of said vehicle (101, 301).

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said audio content items are
comprised in a personalized audio program.

7. A computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions for
causing a processing unit to execute a method according to claim 1.

8. An audio selection system (100, 200) for dynamically selecting audio
content items to be played in a vehicle (101, 301) based on at least one
driving parameter derived from the driving of said vehicle (101, 301),
comprising:at least one sensor (102) associated to said vehicle (101,
301) for detecting said at least one driving parameter, anda processor
(103) for using said at least one driving parameter for selecting said
audio content.

9. An audio selection system according to claim 8, wherein said at least
one sensor (102) comprises sensors integrated into said vehicles
navigation system.

Description:

[0001]The present invention relates to a method and a system for
dynamically selecting audio content items to be played in a vehicle based
on at least one driving parameter derived from the driving of said
vehicle.

[0002]Most motor vehicles are equipped with audio devices. It is a common
thing to change the radio frequency while driving the motor vehicles. The
reason for doing so can be of different nature. One reason may be due to
bad sound quality of the played audio content since the driver might be
outside the signal reception area of the broadcast station; the driver
might not be interested in the audio content that is being played; or the
driver might want to adapt the selected audio content to the current
driving situation. For some drivers, it might be uncomfortable, and even
dangerous, to listen to e.g. very fast music under driving conditions
which demand high concentration of the driver, for instance under icy
road conditions or heavy traffic conditions.

[0003]In GB 2373655 a radio receiver is described in which tuning
information for broadcast stations is selected solely based on the
physical location of the receiver of a motor vehicle. Therefore, a driver
which is listening to a music station and is moving from one broadcast
area to the next can be provided with tuning information of another music
station in the other broadcast area, wherein the tuning information can
be grouped into content categories, thereby enabling the driver to
maintain a similar music category when moving from said one broadcast
area to the next. In this invention the selection is restricted to the
choice of broadcast stations, and the audio content category of the
broadcast stations. This means that the driver can, while moving from one
broadcast area to the next, maintain his/her music category. The problem
with this invention is that the driver can not select the audio content
items within each category. This can be very uncomfortable for the driver
and influence his/her concentration level during the driving.

[0004]It is the object of the present invention to solve the
above-mentioned problem.

[0005]According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a
method for dynamically selecting audio content items to be played in a
vehicle based on at least one driving parameter derived from the driving
of said vehicle, comprising: [0006]detecting said at least one driving
parameter, and [0007]using said at least one driving parameter for
selecting said audio content.

[0008]Therefore, the audio content items to be played in the vehicle can
be modified to the various driving conditions of the vehicle and the
driving behavior of various drivers of said vehicles, thus making the
selection of the audio content items more personalized. This does not
only make the audio listening more comfortable, but also enhances the
security of the driving since e.g. the frequency of where the driver
manually selects the audio content is strongly reduced. The vehicle can
e.g. comprise bicycle, motor vehicle such as car, bus, motorbike, truck
and the like, and the driver of the vehicles can therefore be the one
driving the motor vehicle or the one riding the bike. The driving
parameters can therefore comprise parameters obtained while driving said
motor vehicles, or parameters obtained while riding said bike e.g. via
mobile phone.

[0009]In an embodiment, said at least one driving parameter comprises at
least one parameter of the group consisting of: [0010]a speed parameter
giving the traveling speed of said vehicle, [0011]a frequency parameter
giving the frequency of braking/accelerating of said vehicle, and [0012]a
driving route parameter giving the drivers familiarity of the driving
route.

[0013]By using these driving parameters, the selected audio content items
can therefore be adapted to the concentration level of the driver of said
vehicle. A high braking/accelerating frequency is as an example
indication of high concentration level of the drivers, whereas his/her
familiarity of the road, which can e.g. be based on pre-stored
information in the car's navigation system, might require a low
concentration level. Depending on the various drivers, this could e.g. in
the former case mean that relaxed music is suitable for the driver, and
in the latter case that fast music might be preferred. Also, the
selection of the audio content may of course be based on a combination of
two or more driving parameters. Therefore, in cases where the driver is
very familiar with the driving condition, but the frequency of
braking/accelerating of said vehicle is high, the driver's concentration
level might still be valued as being low.

[0014]In an embodiment, said at least one driving parameter comprises a
time parameter giving the estimated remaining travel time of the
driving/riding of said vehicle. Therefore, audio content program
comprising one or more audio content items, e.g. a number of songs or a
short story, can be selected for the driver for the remaining travel
time, wherein each of the selected content items are adapted to the
various driving conditions as described earlier. Preferably, the
estimated travel time is frequently re-estimated. In cases where the
estimated remaining travel time changes, these changes are preferably
used for repeatedly re-scheduling the selection of the audio content
program to be played in this remaining time interval.

[0015]In an embodiment, said at least one driving parameter comprises a
location parameter giving the location of said vehicle. Thereby, the
selection of said content items can further be based on the location of
the vehicle and only be relevant when the driver of said vehicle is in a
specific location or area or is heading for an area. An example of such
content items is traffic messages, local advertisements, event calendar
for target location and tourist information.

[0016]In an embodiment, said at least one driving parameter comprises a
habit parameter reflecting the habit behavior performed by the driver.
Therefore, historical relation between driving habits of a particular
driver and the selection of audio content items can be used in selecting
said audio content. An example of this is where a driver usually selects
business news when the traffic is very heavy or based on a predefined
criterion, e.g. when the vehicle has been standing still for more than
five minutes. If this behavior is repeated several times, this behavior
might be characterized as said habit behavior.

[0017]In an embodiment, said audio content items are comprised in a
personalized audio program. Therefore, the audio content can be
customized for each individual driver of said vehicle.

[0018]In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a computer
readable medium having stored therein instructions for causing a
processing unit to execute said method.

[0019]According to another aspect, the present invention relates to an
audio selection system for dynamically selecting audio content items to
be played in a vehicle based on at least one driving parameter derived
from the driving of said vehicle, comprising: [0020]at least one sensor
associated to said vehicle for detecting said at least one driving
parameter, and [0021]a processor for using said at least one driving
parameter for selecting said audio content.

[0022]Thereby, a system is provided which can dynamically modify the audio
content items to the various drivers and driving situations.

[0023]In an embodiment, said at least one sensor comprises sensors
integrated into said vehicles navigation system. Thereby, the large
number of driving parameters obtained by the car navigation system can be
used to adapt the audio content items to be played in said vehicle to the
various driving situations.

[0024]In the following, the present invention, and in particular preferred
embodiments thereof, will be described in more detail in connection with
accompanying drawings in which

[0025]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an audio selection system
according to the present invention,

[0026]FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of an audio selection system
according to the present invention,

[0027]FIG. 3a shows one embodiment of the present invention, where the
selected audio content is dynamically modified to the current driving
situation,

[0028]FIG. 3b illustrates a traffic situation where the high concentration
level of the driver in car shown in FIG. 3a has changed to low
concentration level since there are no available cars, and

[0029]FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the present invention, where the
system further selects audio content items based on the current or future
location of the car.

[0030]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an audio selection system 100
according to the present invention, which has been implemented in a motor
vehicle, which as illustrated here is a car 101. The audio selection
system 100 can of course also be implemented in all kinds of vehicles,
such as a bicycle, motorbike, busses, etc.

[0031]The system 100 as illustrated here comprises at least one sensor
102, a processor 103, a storage means 104, such as a hard disc or a
portable storage means, for e.g. storing audio content, and an audio
device 105. Driving parameters obtained from the sensors 102 are used by
the processor 103 for dynamically selecting the audio content to be
played in the car 101. The sensors 102 in this embodiment can as an
example be sensors comprised in the navigation system of the car 101,
and/or other car sensors 102 like the board computer in the car 101.
Other sensors associated with the car may inherently also be used. The
essence in the present invention is to use said driving parameters
detected by said sensors 102 for selecting the audio content to be played
in the car 101.

[0032]The audio content stored at the storage means 104 comprises in one
preferred embodiment personalized audio content items containing e.g. a
mix of different content items, such as songs, news reports, traffic
messages, advertisements, short stories, political commentary, gossip or
interactive learning, which is customized for each individual driver.
Based on the driving situation, the system 100 modifies the personalized
audio content items for the various driving situations. The content
stored at said storage means 104 can also comprise any kinds of audio
content selected by the driver himself.

[0033]The selection of the audio content items using the driving
parameters detected by said sensors 102 is in one embodiment based on set
of rules (or matrix) associated to one or more sensors. As an example,
the driving parameters relating to the speed of the car 101 obtained by
the speed sensor can be categorized into speed intervals, wherein each
speed interval is associated with a beat/minute interval of a song, i.e.
how fast the song is. An example of this is where the speed 0-30 km/h is
associated with a beat interval 30-60 beats/minute, 30-60 km/h with a
beat interval 60-90 beats/minute, etc. Accordingly, if a speed of the
case is 55 km/h, the processor selects a song within the beat interval
60-90 beats/minute. This selection can be a random selection. Of course
the information relating to the beat of the songs, preferably along with
additional information (how long the song is, the title of the band, when
it was issued, etc), is associated with the songs. This can e.g. be via
textual information attached to the song files, or stored separately and
referenced via an identifier in the song file, or such information can be
downloaded from external sources, e.g. the Internet, where it is
identified e.g. through the song title. Also, the system 100, 200 can be
adapted to scan the songs briefly in order to obtain at least some of
this information.

[0034]Inherently, there can be more selection rules per sensor. In the
previous example, the acceleration determined by the speed sensor can be
an additional selection rule in determining the content items, e.g. which
music to play. Accordingly, a multiple selection rules per sensor can be
used when selecting the audio content items. An input from additional
sensors can also be used as an input for selecting the audio content
items. An example of this is whether it is night or day (the clock could
be used here), the whether condition, the light intensity (e.g. is the
car driving through a tunnel), etc.

[0035]Another type of output data from said sensors 102 to be used in
selecting audio content items to be played is the remaining travel time
of the car 101 obtained by the car's navigation system, wherein said
audio content items are scheduled to fill a pre-defined length. This can
be a short story, e.g. 30 minutes long, whereby the remaining time of
driving is 30 minutes. In this case, the short story can be a "candidate"
to be played for the driver. Also, several audio content items can be
selected to fit into said time interval, where the audio content items
are adapted to the current driving behavior of the car 101.

[0036]In one embodiment, the driver can refuse the selected content using
appropriate function/button on the audio device 105, wherein the
processor makes another selection, e.g. selects another song within the
correct beat interval, or the next audio content item from the audio
content schedule.

[0037]In one embodiment, it is the driver who accepts suggested audio
content items and thereby initiates the playing of said content items.
The processor 103 might even suggest one or more audio content programs,
consisting of several audio content items, to the driver of the car 101,
e.g. by displaying on the audio device 105 the audio content items in
said programs. The user can thereby either accept one of the suggested
audio content programs or request for a new suggestion.

[0038]In one embodiment, the system 100 is adapted to memorize various
habit behaviors by the driver. This can be based on memorizing each
tuning or selection activity performed by the user, and the frequency of
performing similar tuning or selection activity. This habit behavior of
the user can therefore be dynamically adapted to the content selection.
This habit behavior can preferably also be "improved" by being more
specific or even change the rules relating to the habit behavior of the
driver. An example of such habit is when the driver is above 150 km/h,
he/she usually selects classical music. In such cases, the system might
follow this habit behavior of the driver and automatically select
classical music as soon as the output data corresponding to the speed 150
km/h is reached.

[0039]FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of an audio selection system 200
according to the present invention to be implemented in said car 101,
comprising said at least one sensor 102, processor 103, and audio device
105. In this embodiment, the system 200 is provided with means for
selecting the audio content at an external database 206 via a wireless
communication channel, such as the Internet. Preferably, the type and
other detailed information about the audio content is associated or
attached to the audio content in order to enable a correct selection of
the content. The detailed information may e.g. comprise the beats/minutes
in case that the content is a song, e.g. disco/rock/classic, the length
of the song, etc. Of course the same is valid when the audio content
comprises stories (horror story, comedy etc), news (business news,
regular news, etc.).

[0040]As illustrated here, the system 200 may further be provided with
said storage means 104 described previously. This could be the case where
personalized audio content is regularly downloaded and stored at said
storage means 104.

[0041]FIG. 3a shows one embodiment of the present invention, where the
selected audio content is dynamically modified to the current driving
situation. In the traffic situation shown here, the concentration level
needed for driver in car 301 is high. This estimation of the
concentration level can be based on the driving parameters obtained by
"speed" sensors or sensors used in navigation system of the car,
frequency of braking/accelerating obtained from
"breaking/accelerating"-sensors, number and complexity of intersections
obtained from the navigation system and familiarity of the route, i.e.
whether the driver has driven here before, based on pre-stored data
obtained from the navigation system. Also, the traffic density can be
determined using cameras, infrared cameras or the like.

[0042]These parameters are used for predicting the required concentration
level of the driver and schedule dynamically the audio content
accordingly. In this case, the driver is only interested in music, slow
music or music with low beats/minutes might be preferred since such music
can have a relaxed effect on the driver. In one embodiment, the system
100, 200 predicts the concentration level for the road/time ahead.

[0043]The high concentration level must, however, not be based on the
traffic situation. Icy road conditions can mean that a high concentration
level is required although there is no traffic at all. This can be
detected by e.g. temperature sensors, brake sensors, snow/ice sensors and
the like, which enable detection of the actual road and weather
condition.

[0044]FIG. 3b illustrates a traffic situation where the high concentration
level of the driver in car 301 shown in FIG. 3a has changed to a low
concentration level since there are no cars nearby, and the driver has
maintained a constant speed for some time. Here it is assumed that the
driving condition (weather and road) is optimal. This change in the
concentration is followed by modifying the selection of the audio content
to be played for the driver, e.g. faster music.

[0045]FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the present invention, where the
system 100, 200 further selects audio content items based on the current
or future location of the car 402, determined by e.g. the car's
navigation system. Such content items can comprise traffic messages,
local advertisements, event calendar for target location and tourist
information. In order to distinguish the content items between areas 400
and 401, textual data or files or the like comprising said locations and
the type of the content item (e.g. local news, local advertisements,
etc.) must be associated or attached to the content items. These content
items are then dynamically selected to be played for the driver in the
car, based on the current driving situation of the car.

[0046]As illustrated here, the driver is located in an area 400 and is
heading to area 401, wherein the content items are dynamically adapted to
the current position of the car 402. As the car is located in area 400
the content items can comprise local advertisements, only in this area.
As soon as the car is located in area 401 the location data dynamically
rule out the content items associated to area 400 and select content
items associated to area 401, e.g. local advertisements in area 401.

[0047]Of course the system 100, 200 can select content items to be played
for the driver in car 402 in two or more locations simultaneously, such
as 400 and 401. This might be convenient when the car 402 is in area 400
and is close to approaching area 401.

[0048]It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate
rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will
be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the
scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed
between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The
word `comprising` does not exclude the presence of other elements or
steps than those listed in a claim. The invention can be implemented by
means of hardware comprising several distinct elements and by means of a
suitably programmed computer. In a device claim enumerating several
means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of
hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually
different, dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these
measures cannot be used to advantage.